COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 14,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Novo Nordisk Foundation
and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) are pleased to announce the
appointment of Nadia Carlsten as CEO
of Danish Centre for AI Innovation A/S (DCAI), a company which will
own and run Denmark's first AI
supercomputer, Gefion.
The public-private initiative to build Gefion in collaboration
with NVIDIA, was announced in March. The goal of DCAI is to enable
users to accelerate AI-based research and innovation in critical
fields including healthcare, life sciences, quantum computing, and
the green transition, supporting the development of innovative
solutions to the world's biggest problems.
Carlsten has significant expertise across AI, quantum
technologies, and machine learning, and over 20 years of experience
in technology management and development. She led the development
and launch of Amazon's first quantum computing services, before
spending over two years developing new products and strategies at
SandboxAQ, a Google spinout that brings together AI and quantum
technology to address global challenges.
She has degrees from the University of
Virginia and a PhD in Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, where she also
studied at the Haas School of Business.
"The combination of a strong scientific background and extensive
experiencing in translating the incredible potential of new
technologies – specifically AI and quantum – into real-world
solutions makes Nadia Carlsten the
ideal person to lead this initiative," says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk
Foundation. "Her global outlook will also help ensure that the
knowledge and innovation developed at DCAI will have impact far
beyond Denmark."
Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO,
says: "We are very proud to be able to hire a person with
Nadia Carlsten's expertise and
abilities as CEO. For me, this emphasizes the importance and
potential of DCAI. With her strong business background from both
Amazon and SandboxAQ, she is the perfect candidate to ensure that
DCAI will be a powerful platform for Danish businesses and for
transforming groundbreaking AI-based research into commercially
profitable solutions. AI is a strategic focus for EIFO, and I am
very much looking forward to our future cooperation."
Nadia Carlsten says: "I'm
thrilled to take on the role of CEO of DCAI and lead this
groundbreaking venture at the forefront of AI technology. Gefion is
not just one of the world's most advanced AI supercomputers, it
will also be a catalyst for further innovation. Our goal is to
provide powerful AI platforms and solutions to bridge the gap
between cutting-edge hardware and practical applications, and I
look forward to working closely with our customers to harness AI to
explore new frontiers and unlock the next wave of technological
advancements."
Optimised for large-scale projects using AI
Carlsten will lead a growing team of DCAI employees who will
start being hired later this year. She will also have overall
management and financial responsibility for DCAI, while working
closely with the Novo Nordisk Foundation, EIFO, and NVIDIA.
Once DCAI is up and running, customers from Denmark's public and private sectors –
including universities and companies – will be able to access a
state-of-the-art NVIDIA supercomputer optimised for large-scale
projects using AI, as well as world-leading NVIDIA software
platforms, training, and expertise. Details on pricing and the
access process will be available later in 2024.
A pilot phase will start later this year. Users with projects
that are sufficiently mature will be able to start during this
phase, providing valuable feedback. The goal is for DCAI to
become more broadly available in the first half of 2025, with
additional phases to support AI projects involving sensitive data
coming later.
About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in Denmark in 1924,
the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with
philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to
improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the
planet. The Foundation's mission is to progress research and
innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and
infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions
to support a green transformation of society.
www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en
About EIFO, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark
EIFO is the national promotional bank and export credit agency
of Denmark combined in one
financial institution. Active in over 100 countries, and with a
total business volume of more than EUR 20
billion, EIFO provides financial solutions for Danish
companies and their global partners, while also investing in
startups and funds. We exist to open doors for Danish global
business, accelerate the green transition, promote new technologies
and develop the Danish defense industry. With our willingness to
take risks in financing, EIFO paves the way for those who dare to
think bigger. Read more at www.eifo.dk
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-foundation-and-export-and-investment-fund-of-denmark-press-release-ceo-appointed-to-lead-denmarks-ai-supercomputer-initiative-302221413.html
SOURCE Novo Nordisk Foundation